Improvement in flood-fences



TTOBNEYS.

w. c. BARBER. FLUOD FENCE.

Patented Aug. 29. 1876.

/i r f Z 1 WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILEY o. BARBER, 0E ROoKMART, GEORGIA.

IMPROVEM ENT 'lN FLOOD-FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 181,620, dated August 29, 1876; application filed June 6, [876.

" verse section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre' sponding parts. i

The invention relates to an improved water rack or fence, for creeks and water-courses, that prevents the passage of cattle, while admitting readily the passage of drift-wood in high water, without accumulating the same, and forming obstructions which expose the fence to the danger of being carried away.

My invention consists of an eccentricallypivoted log, with a number of upright pins or stakes, forming a rack that gives readily for the passage of drift-wood, and readjusts itself automatically.

In the annexed drawing, A represents the log, that is made of any suitable timber, and pivoted eccentrically to the supports or abutments B, at either side of the creek or other water-course: The eccentrically-swinging log A is provided with a number of diametrical bore-holes, that pass in the line of gravity parallel to the vertical diameter of the eccentric pivot-pins of the log through the same. The

stakes orpins O are driven through the boreholes, their thicker and shorter parts extending below the thinner and longer parts above the log, as shown in Fig. l. The stakes form a rack, that is retained in vertical position by the heavy log A, which is pivoted out'ot' the center of gravity, until lowered by drift-wood, trash, and other obstructions floating in high water down the creek. The drift-wood comes in contact with the upper part of the rack, and swings the same over sufficiently to ad- 'Init it to pass without accumulating at the rack. The rack rises again, and assumes its former position as soon as the floating bodies have passed beyond the same. Pins or stops D define the extreme vertical or horizontal swinging of the rack. The automatic action of the fence-rack keeps the same always in place, without requiring special attendance to keep it in order, and prevents the passage of stock at all times.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the eccentrically-pivoted log A, provided with stakes G, with the supports B, substantially as and for the purpose specifiedQ WILEY o. BARBER. 

